The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-11-25
WINTER QUARTERS.
Why All Kins.s of Stock Should Go Int
Thant 81 Gnnd Condition

why All Kins.s of Stock should Go Into
Them "a Good Condition
If farm animals are to come out of
winter quarters in good condition they
must go into them In good condition.
In climate like that in the Northern
States and Territories gain in weight
and condition during the winter is
hardly to be expected; the cold is
severe, the protection is poor, and the
period of confinement very long. Most
farmers rely entirely on hay, straw.
corn-fodder and grain to keep their
stock over winter. They are all dry,
and the animals are likely to become
tired of them long before grass starts in
the spring. Farmers in the Northwest
who raise the condition of their stock
during the long and cold winters do so
at large expense. They build costly
barns, feed out large amount of grain
that could be converted into money,
and spend much time IN taking care of
their animals Even then the gain is
very small. If sold by weight the
majority of farm animals would bring
more in the fall than in the spring.
Making beef, mutton, pork or horse
flesh during the winter is generally
Improbable. The loss from the corn
crib and oat-bin Is not made up by the
gain in the animals that are fed from
them.
When the first snow falls on the grass
in the pastures all kinds of farm ami
mails should be in good condition as re-
spects their supply of flesh and fat.
These will enable them to withstand
the severe cold, and will obviate the
necessity of feeding them large quanti-
ties of grain during the winter. All
young animals should be taughG to eat
dry food before it becomes their con.
slant diet. If calves, colts and lambs
never eat hay till they are shut up in
stables, they will fall off in condition
before they become accustomed to it.
They should have little. given to them
each day in the pastures as soon as
they are weaned. They should also be
taught to eat grass and cornstalks.
The change from green and tender
grass to dry food is likely to bring on
constipation and to lead to other bad
results. The change from grass to hay,
like that from milk to grass, is likely
to impair the condition of young ami.
mails, and if they loose flesh during the,
early part of the winter there is little
prospect that they will commence to
gain till the grass starts the succeed
ing spring.
All farm animals should be examined
to ascertain if they harbor lice or other
vermin before they are shut up in win
ter quarters. These creatures increase
faster in winter than in summer, partly
because the thicker coats of animals
afford better protection for them, and
partly because there are fewer destruc-
tive agents during the time they are
kept in stables. The lice on cattle and
the ticks on sheep pass from one ami
NAL to another of the same species
when they are kept in close contact.
If they fall on the floor they will find
their way back when the animal lies
down to rest. During the summer
there is much dust flying in the air,
which lodges in the coats of animals and
causes lice to loosen their hold on them
and to fall off. Animals are also led by
instinct to roll in the dust and to throw
it over their bodies. Reason should lead
farmers to scatter fine dust, pulverized
tobacco, or insect powder over animals
that are kept in confinement. Almost
any kind of soft fat is valuable for
keeping animals free of lice. 1t may
not kill them, but it appears distasteful
to them, while it interferes with loco
motion. Fat cattle are not often trou-
bled with lice because their skins are so
oily. A small amount of carbolic acid
or tobacco-juice added to fat or oil
makes most effective substance to APP
ply to cattle with view to driving off
lice and preventing them from securing
place to live and multiply. It is
comparatively easy to keep cattle free
from vermin if none are on them when
they are taken up at the commence
ment of cold weather. If they once
get on creature it is hard to displace
them. One lot will be Matching while
another is being destroyed or driven
off The chances are that the lousy
animal will become feeble before the
cause of its suffering is discovered or
removed. - Chicago Times.